Asbestos Removal, One of America’s Deadliest Jobs
There are a few deadly jobs in the world, and asbestos removal and abatement just happen to be one of them. The risk of asbestos exposure isn’t just dangerous for a home and building owners, but also for asbestos removal technicians. You’ll see removal experts wearing protective gear, including a face mask, respirator, shoe covers, hard hats, and full-body coveralls. Although the workspace is sealed and shielded from the open-air and outside world, with warning signs hung all over, that doesn’t necessarily mean space is any safer for the abatement professionals.
While asbestos is dangerous, the physical properties prove the fibers are useful. The mineral’s long, fibrous crystals absorb sound and resist fire, electricity, and heat. As more information about asbestos was shared, we learned that it can be dangerous, especially when they become airborne. When the tiny fibers are in the air, they can enter the human body through the lungs and skin, building up in internal organs and creating scar tissue over time. People may not experience and exhibit symptoms right away, but they can have permanent lung disease, genetic damage, or cancerous growths.
Asbestos was incorporated into many construction projects, commercial, and household products. Asbestos fibers can be found in fireproof coatings, concrete and cement, bricks, pipes, gaskets, insulation, drywall, flooring, roofing, joint compound, paints, and sealants.
Safety Precautions For Asbestos Removal
While asbestos was once a popular material to use in consumer products and construction, in the 1970s, the Environmental Protection Agency decided to start taking some measures to limit the use of hazardous material. The EPA banned asbestos from being used in a variety of products. In 1986, the government passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, which declared in places where asbestos fibers could become friable, which meant they could easily crush into powder and disperse into the air. Workers are looking for better and safer conditions, including better equipment and protection, and tougher safety precautions at job sites.
Asbestos exposure can have lasting effects and is the number one cause of mesothelioma cancer. In fact, with repeated exposure to asbestos on the job, workers are at risk of several cancers and serious pulmonary diseases.
While asbestos exposure is dangerous, our team is fully equipped and prepared to remove the fibers from your home. Our team follows all of the industry and government safety regulations and ensures that we have everything we need to get the job done safely. Learn more about our asbestos testing and removal methods by contacting us today.
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